KDs are designed/developed/inspired/mused/auto-suggested/indigested to make folks think; an especially uncommon experience among Democrats, Republicans, and jingoistic mainline denominationalists who continue to discourage dissent with their ever-threatening thought police.

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Scratching the Surface of Colossians

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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Scratching
the Surface of Colossians

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The devil does
lots of dirty deeds in the church.

That's because
the devil, as Luther wrote, is a "clever trickster" who disguises itself as "an angel
of light" or someone/something good and tasty; or as I've come to believe,
the tempter's temptations are so tempting 'cause we wanna take a bite.

Jesus warned,
it/they "come in sheep's clothing..."

It/they don't
come looking like bad guys/gals.

It/they come
looking like part of the team; and blend in like bad leaven to make things
worse over time.

It/they are like
sleeper cells that seemingly lie dormant in the halls and sanctuaries and on
the committees of churches until the time is wrong for them to disturb, detour,
divide, damage, and sometimes even destroy; noting one of its/their favorite
strategies was summarized so well by the Rolling Stones, "Confusing is my game...Can
you guess my name?"

C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters comes
to mind as the old demon encourages the younger version, "I note with
grave displeasure that your patient has become a Christian...There is no need
to despair; hundreds of those adult converts have been reclaimed...One of our
great allies at present is the church itself."

While James is
right - "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" - and Paul is
right - "We use God's mighty weapons to knock down the devil!" -
there's often too much disturbing, detouring, dividing, damaging, and sometimes
even destroying because too many pewsitters and pulpiteers do not identify and
isolate 'em from infecting the rest of the body aka church with its/their
disease: "Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles
contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such
persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth
talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

The naive.

Bluntly, the
Biblically ignorant.

Even more
bluntly, that's why the Church has always emphasized Biblical Christian
education as one of the best ways to beat the devil in time.

But, again, we've
seen its/their accomplices making a mess in too many churches.

Matthew 15 and
Colossians expose its/their dirty tricks: "They elevate human traditions
to the commandments of God...See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy
and empty deceit, according to human tradition, and not according to
Christ...not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body...grows with a
growth that is from God."

I've learned how
to cut to the quick in distinguishing authentic Christians from posers - the
real deals from those who've unwittingly and often wittingly made their deals
with the devil.

Jesus.

Just start
talking about Jesus with them!!!!!!!

People who really
know/love Jesus are always eager to talk about Him; and people who don't,
don't.

Jesus is the
litmus test.

Do you want to
know what your deacon/elder/pastor really believes or if you'll be equally
yoked in marriage or if your denomination is still faithful or if your
government...or if...or if...or if...?

Just ask 'em to
talk about Jesus.

If they can and
are eager to do it, you know who they are because they know who He is.

If not, not.

To horrify the grammar
police who often care more about jots and tittles than saving souls, you is or
you ain't.

That's what
Colossians is all about; establishing His identity and exposing ours.

Paul says
Christians have an uncompromisingly clear and conclusive confession about
Jesus: "He is the image of the invisible God...all things were created
through Him and for Him...In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to
dwell..."

In short, Jesus
is not like God.

He is God.

This letter
expands upon the opening sentences of John in establishing His identity - His
divine birth certificate.

This letter also
describes how people who know and love Jesus act
accordingly; or, acknowledging the room for improvement in
everyone's life which is why we praise our Lord Jesus for also being our
Savior, how people who know and love Jesus are better than worse when it comes
to following His ethics: "Seek the things that are above...put
on...compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one
another...forgiving...And above all these put on love...Whatever you do, in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through Him."

As I've scratched the surface of the Bible with Colossians really pounding home the point,
Christianity is all about Jesus.

Think about it.

Christianity.

Christians.

How can anyone
who belongs/connects to any church/person that/who claims to be a part of Christendom not be
focusing on Jesus and filtering every part of their life and ministry through
Him?

Christianity is about
Jesus being Lord and Savior and following Jesus because He is Lord and Savior.